I get this question a lot. A LOT.

Why? Because college is expensive. So it makes sense that students and families would be interested in finding ways to make it more affordable. Most students and their families believe that private scholarships are the ticket to paying for a college education. They’ve heard that millions of dollars in scholarships go unclaimed each year. Unfortunately, this is bad information.

Private scholarships are the smallest sources of college money. Only about 7% of students receive private scholarships and the average award is about $2,500. And, these awards are usually only good for one year.

And those scholarships that go “unclaimed?” They are obscure with narrow qualifications - like a scholarship at North Carolina State if your last name is Gatlin or a scholarship at Lake Erie College for twins who attend together.

So where can I get money for college, if not private scholarships?

Your best bet is to apply to colleges that are generous with their own money and where your talents, academic, athletic or otherwise, are valued. Students who apply to these schools can receive scholarships that are much greater than private scholarships (and they are often renewable over a student’s college career).

How do I find generous colleges?

Click here for a free consultation to find out how I can help you find, apply to, and gain admission to colleges and universities that will value you.

Ok. I still want to look for private scholarships. Where do I find them?

Use one of the scholarship tools below to simplify your search. You’ll enter basic details about you, your activities, even your hobbies and the site will provide a list of scholarships for you. The best sites will also show you how much work is involved for each scholarship which is great, because applying to scholarships can be a part-time job.

Scholarship Search Sites:

https://www.goingmerry.com/

https://www.collegexpress.com/scholarships/search

https://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships

https://www.niche.com/colleges/scholarships/

https://www.salliemae.com/college-planning/college-scholarships/

https://www.unigo.com/scholarships

Tips:

Apply to all scholarships for which you are eligible. Many of the sites will do some of the work for you by pre-populating applications with your personal information.
Ask your school counselor about local scholarships These may be easier to win, can be a good source of college money and your counselor can advocate for you.
Do not pay for any scholarship help. The scholarship world is rife with scams.
Explore local options by scouring the library, newspaper, service organizations and your employer to see what scholarships are available.
For more information, here is a great article:
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/how-to-find-and-secure-scholarships-for-college

Caveat:

While getting outside money to pay for college sounds like a good idea, if you are receiving need-based aid (financial aid), federal rules require that colleges consider outside money when calculating aid packages. What does this mean? Colleges may reduce the size of your aid package when a student receives outside scholarships. Ack! Contact the college(s) you’re interested in to find out their policy BEFORE you take outside money.

The bottom line?

Finding private scholarships is a lot of work and often, for only small reward. The biggest sources of scholarships for students are the federal government and the colleges themselves. To find out more, click here to schedule your free consultation to find out how I can help you find, apply to, and gain admission to colleges and universities that will value you.